Volunteering

We ask that everyone who registers for the Convergence volunteer for two hours during the event. Volunteering is fun, builds community, and helps keep tickets affordable for everyone. 

Note - What's the difference between 'volunteer' and 'worktrade'? 

Volunteer time is short, 2 hours. Everyone at the convergence is asked to volunteer. It's just part of the experience. There is no price break for simple volunteer tasks.

Worktrade is approximately 6 hours of work in exchange for a discounted admission. Worktrade persons fill out a form and are asked several questions, including what skills they may have that are useful to the convergence, and when they want to work.

Some scholarships are available for those with greater need.

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Coordinator Positions

Note: 

• Timely and good communications skills are a must for all positions
• All these tasks have mentors for answering questions and help 
• Coordinators can also be creative how they manage their tasks
• This is fun for a great cause! Part of the Great Leap Forward!

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Convergence Coordinator

Stipend $1500

Convergence Co-Coordinator is the event ringleader, needs to like working with people, well organized, energetic, self initiating, helpful, good communication skills. Event experience, ideally knows some history about the convergence - board can provide much of this background info.

• Needs to know what the responsibilities are of other coordinators and makes sure other coordinators  know their tasks.
• Liaison between the convergence and venue.
• Create the convergence vision and implementation plan along with the Board. Has a particular board member as liaison.
• Works with all coordinators and board to fill all needed job positions.
• Maintains communication with all coordinators.
• Maintains a record of the details of organizing for the convergence to leave a clear path for the next convergence coordination.  
• Facilitates communications between coordinators who need to work together.
• Proactive - checks up on other coordinators to see how it’s going without being obtrusive.
• Keeps lists of convergence tasks and log of overall operation updated.

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Registrar - Amber Peoples

Stipend $1500
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• Manages online registration.
• Works with Convergence coordinator to set up ticket prices and details.
• Handles on-site registration throughout the Convergence, with the help of work traders.
• Assigns volunteer jobs as people check in.

​Volunteer Coordinator

Stipend $500
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• All attendees are asked to volunteer for at least 2 hours.  This info is made clear on the website so people will know what’s expected and some people might volunteer online.
• In the past, the volunteer coordinator has posted themselves [a helper could do this, too] at registration with the schedule organized by time, need, where, what’s the task, how many volunteers are needed. Each volunteer receives a sticker to put on their bracelet  to remind themselves of when, what, where they volunteer.
• Works with the registrar to set up a system for people to volunteer online before the event.
• Makes a list of volunteer numbers needed at which times by consulting with the kitchen team and other teams that will need volunteers like set up, registration, on going help.
• Sets up volunteer sign-up sheets at on-site registration.
• Manages the volunteer scene during the event, especially welcoming people into their kitchen shifts.

Outreach Team Coordinator

Position description coming soon.

Volunteer Positions

​All positions require:

• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills 
• Computer access and literacy
• Time commitment as designated​

Fundraising Coordinator

• Ideally a person local to the site
  
• Should be good on the phone,, actually, this is a fun task!
  
• If two people doing this, they need to coordinate who is calling who.
  
• Uses a sponsorship packet which outlines tiers of donations and our thanks as publicity, vending booths, etc. 
  
• Solicits and tracks sponsorships, and works with Convergence Coordinator to know what in-kind donations to ask for.
  
• Sets up crowd-funding mechanisms like Indiegogo or Gofundme.
  
• Applies for grants.
  
• Manages the sponsor Mailchimp e-mail list. Detailed directions are available.
  
• The City Repair website has a great list of people and businesses that have supported the VBC.  Those can all be contacted. 

Trade Show/Vendor Coordinator

• Ideally a person local to the site
• Works to recruit, organize, and facilitate the needs of potential vendors for the vendor site.
• Stays in close contact with the design team to develop the design and layout of vendor facilities and signage.
• Determines fees and siting for trade show vendors, solicits & registers them.
• Arranges logistics for tables/chairs, electricity, unloading, etc.
• Makes the rounds periodically to see if anyone needs help.
• Works with Site Coordinator, Sponsor Coordinator, and Outreach Team.

Presenter Coordinator

• ​A point person who can work with the Board to solicit and keep a good balance of topics and presenters at the Convergence. There should be, at this point, a pretty well-defined set of topical tracks already decided for the presenter coordinator.
• Sets up a system/spread sheet/chart (that a team could input) for managing workshop types, titles, rooms, AV needs, pictures and bios for the website, and presenter assistance with registration, accommodations, etc, as well as any announcements and solicitation to find the right people.
• Arranges the introductions of keynote speakers.
• Arranges moderators for any panels.
• The coordinator, or their team, also makes a printed program and transfers info & updates to big bulletin boards at the event.  Can work with sign crew.
• Works with Site Coordinator, Webmaster, & AV Worktraders.
• Presenter coordinator needs to gather info from presenters - short description of the presentation, a brief bio of the presenter,, photo of the presenter.  This info needs to go on the website.  Important to be persistent with presenters

Skillshare Village Coordinator

• Best if you are local to site
• Solicits people to do hands-on and skillshare activities.
• Helps with space set-up, sometimes extra tools and supplies, and any assistance needed during the event.
• Topics for this area can be: primitive skills, smithing, spinning, weaving, fiber craft, skills of all sorts that can be demonstrated or be hands-on.
• The Skillshare Village has its own schedule posted of activities throughout Saturday and Sunday. Coordinator makes this schedule
• Works with Site Coordinator (especially to know what can/cannot be done), Presenter Coordinator, and Webmaster

Neighborhood Coordinator

• Outreach to neighborhoods surrounding the event.
• Ideally a person local to site
• Works with Event Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator and Site Coordinator.
• Arranges neighborhood tours.
• Circulates fliers and posters.
• Specific to someone who is familiar with the neighborhoods local to the event.

Accommodations Coordinator

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• Ideally a person local to site
• Lines up yards, rooms, and couches for people to camp in or stay.
• Looks into options for hotel bulk rates and variety of housing types.
• Organizes the contact names, addresses, directions, maps, parking details, phone numbers, and fees that some may ask for camping space.
• Sets up a format for participants to match themselves with lodging and start communications between them. Works with Registrar.

Audio/Visual

• Assesses Audio Visual needs and ensures that all needed equipment will be available to meet needs of presenters. This can include powerpoint  projectors, screens, computers, extension cords, power strips, stage.
• Ensure Audio Visual experienced volunteers are available to help all presenters

Documentation/Archives

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• Oversees finished products and the team (of worktraders) who is gathering videos, pictures, interviews, etc.
• Audio and video recording. Perhaps interviews to be broadcast/online.
• Live streaming
• You tube

Entertainment

• In the evenings we hope to see dances, song circles, dinner music, fireside jams, fire juggling, skits, what have you. These can be at the main site or at various campfires in the neighborhood, and different setup and support will be needed at each.
• Participants can bring musical instruments and jam, song circles, etc, and this person updates convergence-goers and how/where to get involved.

Decoration Coordinator

• Ideally a person local to site
• Plans and creates decorations.

Sign Coordinator

• Lots of signs to be made. A few painted, but many can be made as a Word doc, sent to a printer and enlarged. Convergence covers the cost of printing. 
• Sign maker works with the Site Coordinator.

Children's Program Coordinator

• Organize schedule of childrens’ activities with support from volunteer coordinator and presenter organizer.
• Be focal person onsite during Convergence to work with parents and children.
• Create list of expectations for parents and children to post online.
• Work with Registrar to make certain families who register are given expectations list at time of registration.​
  

Photographer